Pilot makes daring landing on Hwy 50

DELTA, Colo. (KKCO) -- A single-engine plane makes an emergency landing on Highway 50 just north of Delta.

Delta Police spokesperson Jamie Head says the male pilot took off from the Grand Junction Regional Airport this morning, but while flying south, the plane began experiencing engine problems, including a power failure.

Air traffic controllers tried to redirect him to the Delta airstrip, but he was not going to make it.

The pilot decided to make a daring landing on Highway 50.

Cars were driving on the roadway, but Head says they swerved out of the plane's path, allowing him to land safely.

The pilot maintained control of the plane until he hit the shoulder, which made him clip a fence at 1380 Highway 50. The tail is sitting over the fence now, and some of the plane is still blocking the highway.

The pilot-- the plane's only occupant-- was not injured, according to Head.

Colorado State Patrol says the plane hit at least one power line as it landed, and officials are not sure if the wire is still live. Traffic in the area will be slow until the power issue can be resolved and the plane is removed.

The landing site is two to three miles from the Delta airport. An accident specialist from the Delta Police Department is on scene to analyze the incident.

The plane is a fixed-wing, single-engine Cessna, registered to Janair LLC in Grand Junction, according to the FAA registry.

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